Cassidy opens up at Open Forum

Manager Tommy Cassidy launched into a scathing tirade against the state of Non League football at the club's Open Forum this evening - as he asked for the fans to give him more time to assemble a squad for the upcoming season.

Cassidy told those in attendance that a number of clubs were now spending "Silly money" to get players to their clubs and that it was "Ruining it for everyone else."

The 62-year-old stated that his pre-season preparations had been greatly affected by free-spending teams from lower down the footballing pyramid, but did not blame the players for going to these clubs for more money.

Cassidy said: "Today, Non League football is unbelievable. I've never seen so much money available at this level.

"In the Premier League, it's all about money. Man City won the league because they spent the most money blah blah blah.

"However, I don't blame the players for doubling their wages. I blame the system.

"There are clubs signing players on contracts left, right and centre and - in a couple of weeks - a number of them will become available, but the teams will want a fee of £2000-£3000 for them. We're the victims in this."

Cassidy also revealed that, not only were these clubs beating Spartans to signings, they'd also picked off members of last year's squad one by one.

He said: "Of the 11 that started the last game of last season - when we played Nuneaton - there's only three that are still with the club.

"I've found it hard to compete. I don't mind losing one or two players, but I lost eight. To replace them all was going to be very, very difficult."

Because of the lure of more money from these clubs, Cassidy was powerless to keep these players at the club.

He said: "Last season, we got relegated and there were players that wanted more money than what they were already on or they were away. It wasn't a direct threat to me, but I was told that they could get that elsewhere.

"I had to tell them 'In that case, go then'. I didn't want to be fake by promising them this and that and then not fulfil that promise.

In addition to the financial difficulties in attracting players, Cassidy also revealed that he had been fighting against the attitudes of some of his targets.

He said: "I don't want to make the mistake of bringing in players that I haven't seen. So six weeks ago, I said to half-a-dozen players 'Come and play for us and have a few games' and the attitude is 'No. Why should I have to go on trial?'

"I might be slitting my own throat here, but - unless I know about them - I want to see players in action, before I sign them.

"Craig Farrell was the perfect example of that. I watched him play against us last season and he took my eye.

"He came on and scored a goal as a sub. When he became available, I went straight for him.

"Of course, I take opinions but I'd rather see the player so - after two games - I'm not questioning why I've signed them."

The former Newcastle United midfielder spoke openly and honestly to the fans and he also admitted that pre-season has not turned out exactly how he wanted it to.

The Ulsterman said: "I can honestly say I'm not happy with the squad that I've got at the moment. I've tried to bring young lads in and, clearly, it just isn't working and I'll take the blame for that.

"I know that, if I was a supporter here last night (for the 1-3 defeat against Shildon,) I would have been very disappointed. I was very annoyed last night and I know that three or four of them simply aren't good enough.

"The dressing room is a room full of strangers, which also doesn't help. I noticed during last night's game that one or two are sitting on their own and that needs to be addressed.

"What I'm trying to do is get two experienced players in the dressing room - as well as the pitch - that can get the younger ones together.

And, ahead of the club's return to the Evo-Stik League Northern Premier at Witton Albion next week, Cassidy also requested that the fans give him time to rectify these problems.

He said: "What we need is a little bit of time and, when I say that, I mean seven or eight weeks. However, I'm fully aware that the season begins next Saturday.

"Losing seven or eight players from the end of last season is difficult to replace overnight, so I'm just asking for a little bit of patience.

"I do apologise to the fans in a way, because we have left it late. Without the supporters, there is no club.

"On my CV, it says Blyth Spartans, 2012: Relegated. What I want on my CV for this year is promotion, but we need that patience.

"The teams that get relegated are always favourites to go straight back up again, but it's going to be difficult for us to do that at the moment.

"Things aren't all doom and gloom though. Me and Paddy (Atkinson) are working hard to get good players in and make sure we're ready for next Saturday.

"With the core of this team - and one or two additions - I'm confident we can do very well in this league."